Prefilter for gas generating air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a cylindrical inner surface defining a chamber;
an ignitable gas generating material in the chamber for, upon being ignited, producing a flow of combustion products, including gas to inflate the air bag and hot particles; and
a filter for removing hot particles from the flow of combustion products, said filter being a tubular cylinder and located in said chamber between said gas generating material and said housing, said filter forcefully engaging said cylindrical inner surface of said housing, said filter being contractible circumferentially and radially from a first condition for insertion into the chamber, said filter expanding circumferentially and radially toward the first condition to provide the forceful engagement with said cylindrical inner surface of said housing when the force contracting the filter is removed;
said filter engaging said cylindrical inner surface of said housing at spaced apart locations, said filter being spaced radially from said cylindrical inner surface between said locations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20) for inflating an air bag comprises a housing (22) which includes a wall (84) having an inner surface defining a chamber (108). Ignitable gas generating material (122) is located in the chamber (108) and, upon ignition, provides combustion products including gas which flows from the housing to inflate the air bag and hot particles. A tubular filter (140) removes hot particles from the gas flow. The tubular filter (140) comprises a strip of material having a plurality of spaced openings (146) through which the gas can flow and two end portions (160, 162) which overlap. The strip of material also has a plurality of projections (142, 144) engaging the inner surface of the housing (22). The projections (142, 144) are located on the strip of material at spaced locations around the tubular filter (140). The projections (142, 144) space at least a portion (148, 150 or 152) of the tubular filter (140) away from the inner surface of the housing (22). The filter (140) is contractible circumferentially and radially from a first expanded condition for insertion into the chamber (108). The filter (140) expands circumferentially and radially toward the first expanded condition to provide a forceful engagement of the filter with the inner surface of the wall (84) when the force contracting the filter is removed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a cylindrical inner surface defining a chamber; an ignitable gas generating material in the chamber for, upon being ignited, producing a flow of combustion products, including gas to inflate the air bag and hot particles; and a filter for removing hot particles from the flow of combustion products, said filter being a tubular cylinder and located in said chamber between said gas generating material and said housing, said filter forcefully engaging said cylindrical inner surface of said housing, said filter being contractible circumferentially and radially from a first condition for insertion into the chamber, said filter expanding circumferentially and radially toward the first condition to provide the forceful engagement with said cylindrical inner surface of said housing when the force contracting the filter is removed; said filter engaging said cylindrical inner surface of said housing at spaced apart locations, said filter being spaced radially from said cylindrical inner surface between said locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a cylindrical inner surface and a chamber; ignitable gas generating material in the chamber for, upon ignition, producing a flow of combustion products, including gas to inflate the air bag and hot particles; and a filter for removing hot particles from the flow of combustion products, said filter comprising a strip of material having two overlapping end portions, said filter forcefully engaging said cylindrical inner surface at spaced apart locations and being spaced radially from said cylindrical inner surface between said locations; said filter being contractible from a first condition for insertion into the chamber, said overlapping end portions overlapping a first length when said filter is contracted, said filter returning toward said first condition and providing the forceful engagement with said cylindrical inner surface, said overlapping end portions overlapping a second length which is less than said first length when said filter forcefully engages said inner surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification